Expert: Ismar Avdic, Eng. - 4/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: "I am a young boy from Ethiopia. who is burning for the search of full aviation/aeronautics scholarship.I am first year mechanical engineering student at Arbaminch University Ethiopia.I have been trying to build my own small airplane to get solution to my dreams of the aviation in my past 5 years of high school.but i did not get succeed. but I did reach some achievements and acquired lots of knowledge about airplanes.and general science. I had awarded for my past science fair project on "wind power".but i am steel burning in search of scholarship  for Aviation/aeronautics.
hope to hear good news or comments
bless you!!!
Eyob The Aviator"

ANSWER: Hi Eyob,
That is very impressive that you started building your own airplane. That is very common here in USA, a lot of pilots actually buy kits to build an airplane following the plans and blue prints and material list. I am telling you that is the cheapest way to accumulate flight time and learn to fly aiplane. You can actually get all your licenses in an experimental airplane like that except Commercial Pilot license and ATP. But that is basically based on USA requirements, I am not sure for Ethiopia requirements.
Unfortunatelly, I do have enough information about scholarships in Ethiopia, and I do provide information for USA majority. But in full honesty getting flight scholarship is very tough job. First you have to have all requirements regarding citizenship and educational background before you can enroll in an scholarship. Second, when you have all pre requisites, now there is more requirements in order to apply, like requirements to create an essey on specific subject, essey on subject "how you might benefit to aviation socity" and similar. Now when you enter conpetition for scholarship, there is no guarantee that you will win, just chance to be in circle of possibilities, if you know what I mean.
Sorry that I could not be more of help to you, but again I am located in USA and all information that I do have are based for this country.

Ismar


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I really appreciated you reply and your building advice.
But i want to ask you if there is any opportunities for people like me.
cause I really impressed getting abroad aviation scholar ships because i wish to catch up the moderen technologies and Job opportunities.
pleas let me Know if there are other organization or aviation schools that can give opportunities young people like me.

Appreciating your help and information.
Eyob The Dreamer

Answer
Hi Eyob,
Your first step I would do if I am in your position, I would complete mechanical engineering college in Ethiopia, in meantime during college I would complete airplane project with help of colege and students and teachers, include all colege in your project so 10-20 heads are better then one, plus building an airplane from scratch, it is BIG project. Now I would assume that for 4 years you would be able to complete project just if you focus and include complete colege and students into project. If you done before end of colege you could start training and learning to fly on same airplane too. When you done with colege, now you have a chance to get included in modern techologies that are in dvelopment in avaition field.
I am not sure that you will be exposed to modern aviation techologies in Ethiopia, but all modern technologies are developed majority in Europe, USA and Australia and so on.
You would need to move in one of those countries and start an specialization for aviation techologies within your Mechanical engineering degree. I would do that if I am you.
As of now like I mention you before there is an huge competion requirements for any scholarship within students in an college, and there is numerous requirements that need to be fullfilled in order to apply. Unfortunatelly, you as an non citizen you do not have an chance not even to enter. Aviation and pilot training is so popular that in majority case an scholarship founder receives thousands and thousand applications, and they do rewarding only 2-3 scholarships.

Regards
Ismar